Galad and Perrin are autistic

[Ibon Caseï]

My personal head canon: Galad is autistic.

Why?
He's shitty at understanding other people's motivations and emotion, he's got a very clear moral compas and will do what he feels is Right regardless of the consequences to himself, and he's been like this since he was a child.

Also Perrin is autistic, for almost the same reasons. It manifests a bit differently in him, but it's much the same.

Do you agree? Disagree?

 

[Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum]

I definitely read Galad as autistic. He comes across in much the same way as my brother does in social situations. Just...not as much of a nice person, because of the differing ways they were raised. And the Autism Spectrum is not linear.

Perrin...it's possible. I read more of anxiety and obsessive/circular/avoidance from him, but his quick adaptation to Ghaul and the Aiel makes me hesitate on that.

 

[Cinna Vrammar]

I definitely agree about Galad. There's a lot about him that reminds me of my sister, especially the very black and white moral compass.

I'm not as sold on Perrin, personally, but there's a lot of room on the spectrum.

 

[Catt Heckathorne]

Perrin is more DID because of the wolves, but DID can look like autism.

.....Actually, both Perrin AND Rand have DID. They both regularly get taken over by alternate personalities.

 

[Nebka Galyn]

Perrin is more DID because of the wolves, but DID can look like autism.

.....Actually, both Perrin AND Rand have DID. They both regularly get taken over by alternate personalities.

agree

 

[Ephrem Elpidius]

Perrin is more DID because of the wolves, but DID can look like autism.

.....Actually, both Perrin AND Rand have DID. They both regularly get taken over by alternate personalities.

agree

Can you give me a specific example why you think this is the case in regards to DID? I looked it up and I don't feel that way about Perrin at all. I think Perrin has sensory issues like me, which is why he is the only one in the entire group to stay in his small village and become Lord of it (not by choice of course) but regardless, he likes things slowed down (big cities are overwhelming to me sensory wise, and I feel Perrin would agree with me on this), he likes tradition, he places Faile above all else, he is OCD and master's a couple things (as do I, when I get into a hobby I go all in... hardcore... takes me a couple years to pull out and look back and say wow mate you really need to learn balance) lol

Also, I am only slightly on the spectrum, I don't think I have emotional issues, I had a gf in my college days, and I did fine with emotional understanding, it has needed work over the years though too, so I get it. My best friend is on the spectrum more than I am with an official aspergers diagnosis, and he does indeed struggle with emotional stuff immensely. I don't recall Perrin struggling with emotions though. It's been a long ass time since I read the books though, I mainly remember his love for Faile was placed above all else (please don't mention Berelain, I have yet to meet a man that would not stare at that cleavage) :$

 

[Laralelle Susandrea]

Galad I can go with, although he was very aware of how women looked at him and the fact that they were attracted to him, and it's my experience that this isn't the case in autism (speaking VERY GENERALLY). Perrin...nah.

 

[Catt Heckathorne]

Can you give me a specific example why you think this is the case in regards to DID? I looked it up and I don't feel that way about Perrin at all. I think Perrin has sensory issues like me, which is why he is the only one in the entire group to stay in his small village and become Lord of it (not by choice of course) but regardless, he likes things slowed down (big cities are overwhelming to me sensory wise, and I feel Perrin would agree with me on this), he likes tradition, he places Faile above all else, he is OCD and master's a couple things (as do I, when I get into a hobby I go all in... hardcore... takes me a couple years to pull out and look back and say wow mate you really need to learn balance) lol

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder

DSM criteria:

1. Two or more distinct identities or personality states are present, each with its own relatively enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self.
2. Amnesia must occur, defined as gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/or traumatic events.
3. The person must be distressed by the disorder or have trouble functioning in one or more major life areas because of the disorder.
4. The disturbance is not part of normal cultural or religious practices.
5. The symptoms cannot be due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (such as blackouts or chaotic behavior during alcohol intoxication) or a general medical condition (such as complex partial seizures).

Basically it's the non amnesia form of DID, other specified dissociative disorder, but except for the non-amnesia bit the wolf brother takeover and Lews Therin Telamon both fit these criteria.

 

[Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum]

Basically it's the non amnesia form of DID, other specified dissociative disorder, but except for the non-amnesia bit the wolf brother takeover and Lews Therin Telamon both fit these criteria.

So, for Perrin's part, you're& saying the DID aspect is when he becomes more wolf-like in tel'aran'rhiod. Or when he's thinking of wolf-like violence against someone in the waking world?

 

[Catt Heckathorne]

When the wolf takeover in general happens. It's a lot like a personality switch in DID.

Same with LTT.

 

[Ephrem Elpidius]

When the wolf takeover in general happens. It's a lot like a personality switch in DID.

Same with LTT.

I understand what you are saying, but in a fantasy context in a alternate universe I don't DID applies to Perrin or Rand, because DID would imply it would have to be fake to some degree, if it was an alternate personality correct? But the Wolf dream in this context of the story itself is not fake, it is very real, and it very much a part of him not separate. So I don't think I can agree with this personally

For Rand I can agree, because regardless of what universe you are in, if someone says you have to save the world, nay, the Cosmos from oblivion, it's going to cause a lot of stress LOL


edit: just to be very clear, I support and believe DID is a real thing where we live - present day- I simply meant it in a fantasy world context, DID might not exist in that same context, apologies as I am not eloquent in explaining it fully.

 

[Satara al'Caelahn]

Strange phrasing aside, I think DID can definitely apply to Rand in a more direct way. He and LTT are the same person, but not. And when one part of him is in control, the other isn't. When Semirhage talks about it in later books (Knife of Dreams? The Gathering Storm?) and the research that Graendal had done, she even used the word "reintegration" which is used often in mental health circles when it comes to DID.

I also fully believe that Galad is autistic.

I'm on the fence about Perrin, though. I agree that there are some faint traces of DID-like stuff with the way he has his human self and his wolf self. But he also has a few traits that would align with him being on the Autism spectrum. Though I don't think he fully fits either label, to be honest. Not to me, at least. I just don't see him that way. He's just Perrin.

 

[Laralelle Susandrea]

I don’t think Perrin is DID, because the wolves are not inside his head-they are flesh and bone in the world and they’re speaking to him-it’s a different form of communication, but hey exist outside of him.

 

[Jocasta Braithe]

But Young Bull is a different persona that exists within Perrin. I agree the wolves communicate with him and exist independently, even Hopper, as the rules of Tel'aran'rhiod work, but Perrin Aybara and Young Bull are two personalities in the same person. Perrin worries about Perrin being consumed by Young Bull and never coming to the surface again. I think he fits the criteria.

I also see hyperfocus in Perrin, he reminds me of my husband who has ADHD and hyperfocuses.

 

[Ephrem Elpidius]

But Young Bull is a different persona that exists within Perrin. I agree the wolves communicate with him and exist independently, even Hopper, as the rules of Tel'aran'rhiod work, but Perrin Aybara and Young Bull are two personalities in the same person. Perrin worries about Perrin being consumed by Young Bull and never coming to the surface again. I think he fits the criteria.

I also see hyperfocus in Perrin, he reminds me of my husband who has ADHD and hyperfocuses.

I thought ADHD meant that you can't focus at all?

 

[Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum]

ADHD means it's *difficult* to focus, but you can. And sometimes, when you enter hyperfocus mode, nothing else matters, and when you're interrupted, it is *frustrating*.

 

[Satara al'Caelahn]

I don’t think Perrin is DID, because the wolves are not inside his head-they are flesh and bone in the world and they’re speaking to him-it’s a different form of communication, but hey exist outside of him.

This was where my brain went, too, the first time someone said that Perrin had traits of DID. I automatically went to it being about his connection to the wolves and hearing them in his head, but it's more about his connection to the more wolf-like part of himself. Perrin Aybara and Young Bull. Two parts, same body. I still don't necessarily think that a DID diagnosis would be fitting for him, though.

Also, ADHD is so complex, it's not just not being able to focus. Forcing yourself to focus when your brain doesn't want to is like nails on a chalkboard. And when you ARE focused, being interrupted feels like the end of the world because you just HAVE to focus on this thing. (And a TON more symptoms that people don't readily think of when they think about ADHD.) I do see a little bit of that in Perrin, but again, not seeing an inability to focus. Just the hyperfocus/hyperfixation sometimes. Maybe a sprinkling of sensory issues, but even that is because of his heightened senses and not because he's getting overwhelmed by normal sensations.

 

[Ibon Caseï]

Interesting idea about ADHD for Perrin.. The "feeling emotions super strongly" is definitely an ADHD trait.. But I still think it's autism. Notice how he and Galad get along REALLY well. That's typical for when neurodiverse people finally speak with someone else on the spectrum, as opposed to always talking with allistic people. Also, he's got a lot of problems understanding and caring about complex social mechanisms.. And he doesn't really understand sub-text at all... He learns scrips like "my wife wants me to raise my voice" or "people want to call me lord", but never figures out why.

 

[Laralelle Susandrea]

He learns scrips like "my wife wants me to raise my voice" or "people want to call me lord", but never figures out why.

That's an excellent point. I still don't think it's autism (Thought that is an autistic trait), I think it's more that "this is weird, this is not how I was brought up but it seems to make her happy so I'll go with it."

 

[Elania al'Manir]

When I was looking into adult autism diagnoses, I came across a theory (scientifically identified but not thoroughly proven) about a "broader autistic phenotype". It's largely referring to the fact that family members of autistic people often have similar but subclinical differences in social skills and traits, communication abilities, and personality traits. It's possible that Perrin would fit into this category of "yes you have some characteristics of autism but not to the extent of a full diagnosis". That being said, I am in no way qualified to make that determination as I'm not an authority on the subject and haven't read the books in over a year.